Back in Room 8 that evening, the four girls were buzzing. It turned out that Belle wasn’t the only one who had been invited to the school dance द्वारा a boy that day.

“Let me tell आप about mine,” gushed Jasmine, who was the most excited. “Aladdin and I went to explore that balcony overlooking the gardens and we found a secret passage leading downwards. And he had this mad idea of अभिनय out Romeo and Juliet, so we started अभिनय out the balcony scene and then he just कहा “Jasmine, will आप go to the dance with me?” I was really flustered, at first, I can tell you! When I कहा yes, he practically started doing backflips in excitement!”

“That is so romantic!” sighed Snow White. She turned to Meg. “What was yours like?”

Meg giggled. “Not quite as romantic! Hercules started pretending to be a knight in the armoury and ended up knocking over a suit of armour and it all fell apart! It was pretty embarrassing! But I helped him put it back up and he just asked if I was going to the dance with anyone. I कहा no, and well...” She threw up her hands, dramatically. “Ta-da!”

Snow White clapped her hands. “That’s so sweet!”

Belle smiled. “If only there was a man for you, Snow.”

“Ah, I’m not the only one,” smiled Snow White. “Aurora’s not been asked द्वारा anyone either so we’re gonna go along as फ्रेंड्स and just, ya know, hang out द्वारा the पंच bowl.”

“It’s going to be amazing!” चमेली smiled. “So, what’s everyone going to wear?”

“Well, I’ve got this white dress that looks like an Ancient Greek robe,” कहा Meg, “trimmed with gold. But I want to get some सोना sandals to go with it.”

“We’ll go shopping at the weekend!” चमेली turned to Belle. “What about you? What are आप going to wear?”

“Well, I’ve got my green dress, या my गुलाबी dress,” began Belle.

“Oh, no, Belle!” Snow White shook her head.

“What?” Belle looked confused.

Meg smiled. “Belle, your dresses are lovely but they’re और casual, like for every दिन and stuff. This is a school dance. आप need to find something a bit और formal for the evening.”

“Do I?”

“No offence, honey. It’s just the only time in school when we get to really dress up in proper ball dresses. Or,” she added, grinning at Jasmine, “in fancy harem pants.”

चमेली grinned back. “And then we’ve got to fix your hair and stuff.”

“My hair?” Belle felt it, worriedly. “What’s wrong with my hair?”

“You need to put it up या something,” Snow White smiled, untying Belle’s hair ribbon and playing with her hair. “Yeah, I think it would look good up.”

“Don’t worry; we’ll give each other make-overs before the dance,” smiled Jasmine. “I want to wear my hair up too.”

“I think I’ll curl mine,” कहा Snow White, still experimenting with Belle’s hair, putting it in a half bun with the rest hanging down. “Or crimp it. I प्यार the way your hair just waves naturally, Belle. You’re so lucky.”

“Really?” Belle smiled. “I think it looks messy when it’s not tied up.”

“Nonsense,” कहा Snow White. “I think आप should try wearing it down और often.”

“Yeah, me too,” smiled Meg. “I’m going to try and plait mine; maybe like Rapunzel had hers that time...”

Belle pondered what Snow White had कहा that evening. Maybe she ought to try wearing her hair naturally और often.

Would it be noticeable, though?

She soon found out on Friday evening when Meg suggested they शामिल होइए the boys in the pool. Belle took her hair down and adjusted her blue and black swimming costume. Jasmine’s was red, Snow White’s was dark blue with yellow फूल patterns and Meg’s was, naturally, purple to match her eyes. Belle couldn’t help envying Meg’s figure which was much और noticeable through her costume. That made her think of Audrey and she wondered how she was getting on. The last time she’d seen her at dinner, she looked to be eating, so maybe that was a good sign. At any rate, Jim hadn’t asked for her help again so maybe that was a good sign too.

“Come on,” grinned Meg. “Before the boys leave!”

“Before Hercules leaves, आप mean!” teased Jasmine.

“Ah, shush, harem pants! I’m still reeling from the fact he asked me to the dance!”

“Cannon ball!” cried Snow White, flinging herself into the pool, much to the surprise of the boys.

“Hey!” laughed John. “Looks like we have company!”

“Hey, Belle!” Flynn called, waving to her.

Adam turned his head and smiled at her. As she slid into the pool, feeling confident, he swam up to her. “You’re hair looks nice down,” he commented.

She blushed. “Thanks. That’s what Snow says.”

What started as a simple swim ended with the biggest water fight Belle had ever known. It was और fun that she had ever expected to have in her life. Much to her relief, Adam was on her side, along with Flynn, so they had the upper hand. Seeing the look on Hercules’ face when Adam accidently drenched him in one great wave of water, she laughed so much that she was sure something might break in her if she laughed any harder. For the first time in a long time, she felt content and at ease and happy amongst friends.

“Well?” purred Meg that night as they climbed into their respective beds.

“Well, what?” asked Belle, snuggling up to her pillow.

“Well, did Adam notice आप had your hair down?”

“How could he not?”

“Oh, Belle!” sighed Meg. “You still have a lot to learn about men! It usually takes them forever to notice when you’ve done something different with your hair या anything else.”

“So, what are आप saying?” asked Belle, puzzled.

“I’m saying that if he notices your hair, he must really like आप a lot.”

Belle smiled as she drifted off to sleep.

The अगला day, it was the planned shopping trip. चमेली was gushing about a great little boutique where she liked to shop. “It’s called Agrabah Palace,” she said. “You guys’ll प्यार it! It’s not just harem pants they do; they sell gorgeous dresses too!”

Even so, Belle had her doubts as she slipped into the shop. Jasmine’s clothes were lovely and she always looked great in them, but they felt a little too...fussy for Belle’s taste. Still, she allowed चमेली and the others to drag her inside.

“Well, hello, girls!” smiled the owner, a woman named Jeannie who was wearing a harem outfit of her own. “Who’s your friend?”

“This is Belle,” grinned Jasmine. “There’s a school dance tonight, and she needs an outfit!”

“Well, I’ve just got some wonderful new ones in! Girls, girls!”

Jeannie clapped her hands and three girls in pink, red and बकाइन outfits appeared. They were clearly the मॉडेल for the store, to विज्ञापन दे the clothing. They looked lovely, Belle had to admit, but they were really दिखा रहा है off too much flesh and she felt awkward. She couldn’t possibly wear something like that.

“Um, those are...lovely,” she stammered, hugging her book for support. “But, I was hoping for something simpler. Some kind of dress.”

“Hm, well, what colour did आप have in mind?”

“Well, I like blue...”

“Oh, no, honey! I’d say yellow for you!”

“Really?” Belle had never considered wearing yellow.

“Yes, आप know, honey, I think I may have just the thing in the back. Come with me. We’ll make आप the real Belle of the ball!”